Billy Crystal to honor Robin Williams during Emmy Awards

2014-08-20T19:29:00.000Z

Kurt Schlosser

TODAY

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Billy Crystal has had "no words" on Twitter since the death of fellow comedian and actor Robin Williams on Aug. 11. But at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Crystal will speak for many when he leads a special tribute to the late actor.

Jeff Christensen / Today

Robin Williams, left, has a laugh with Billy Crystal on stage at New York's Radio City Music Hall during HBO's "Comic Relief 8" on June 14, 1998.

Emmy Awards executive producer Don Mischer announced Wednesday that Crystal has been called upon to lead a tribute to Williams during the show's In Memoriam segment, which honors stars who have passed away.

"We felt we needed to do something powerful and memorable," Mischer said, according to E!. "Billy seemed like the perfect choice."

Crystal and Williams, along with Whoopi Goldberg, served as hosts of Comic Relief, which started in 1986 and has raised millions of dollars since to combat homelessness. Crystal and Williams also starred together in the 1997 film "Father's Day."